Envelope making machinery



Dec. 12, 1961 A. NOVICK ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINERY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 4, 1958 INVENTOR Jae/0W4: A aV/c/r w/ cazz ATTO R N EY S Dec. 12,1961 A. NOVICK 3,012,774

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tlcil.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1961 A. NOVlCK 3,012,774

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s Dec. 12,1961 A. NOVlCK 3,012,774

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR1g 1U flER/W/AM Nov/ck ATTORNEYS United Patented Dec. 12, 1961 ice3,012,774 ENVELGPE MAKING MACHINERY Abraham Novick, Flushing, N.Y.,assignor to F. L.

Smiths Machine (30., inc, New York, N.Y., a corporathat of New YorkFiled Dec. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 778,225 26 Claims. (Cl. 271-37} Thisinvention relates in general to blank separating apparatus such as isemployed in envelope making machines and particularly to a new anduseful apparatus for separating blanks advanced in fanned-outoverlapping relationship and for feeding such blanks in individualizedspaced and timed relationship.

The present invention represents an advance over the prior artconstructions, particularly in the arrangement which permits the rapidfeeding of a multiplicity of fanned-out blanks and the withdrawal ofeach blank in succession by a pullout mechanism which includes means forfirst initiating the rapid withdrawal of the first envelope of thefanned-out group and partially separating it from the remainder, as thelatter are being continuously advanced toward the pullout mechanism. Themechanism for initiating withdrawal of each blank in successioncooperates with a roller feed mechanism, which seizes the partiallyseparated blank and continues the rapid withdrawal thereof until it iscompletely separated from the fanned-out group.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a rapidly rotatingsegment of relatively short peripheral extent which is timed to operatein conjunction with the speed of advance of the fanned-out blanks toengage the foremost blank at a point slightly to the rear of the forwardedge thereof. As the blank is engaged a pressure retaining roller isrolled off the rear edge thereof to aid in effecting rapid instantaneousseparation and advance of the topmost blank from the remaining group.The blank is fed by the said segment a short distance to a positionWhere a forward edge thereof is brought into engagement with themechanism for completing the withdrawal of the blank. The lattermechanism carries the blank to a position for operating thereon byprecise timing and aligning mechanism for further feeding. The apparatusis both simple to operate and maintain and includes an arrangement toadjust the mechanism for blanks of the various widths.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is providedmeans for rapidly pulling out envelope blanks having front flaps withsubstantially straight forward edges from a group of such blanks whichare continuously advanced in fanned-out relationship.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is providedmeans for pulling out envelopes of substantially rhomboid shape from agroup of such envelopes fed in fanned-out relationship.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a blankpullout and advancing mechanism for .individualizing blanks fed inoverlapping relationship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism foriudividualizing envelope blanks from a stack of such blanks fed infanned-out relationship includim a rapidly rotating segment which isadapted to operate in timed relationship to the feed of advance of thefanned out blanks to withdraw the uppermost blank from the group andinitiate its rapid movement away from the remaining portion of the groupinto association with mechanism for completing the withdrawal of andfurther feeding the individualized blank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for separatingindividual blanks from a plurality of overlapped blanls for anyconfiguration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blar 2 individualizingmechanism which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For

a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages andspecific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there isillustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of a portion of anenvelope machine indicating a blank individualizing mechanismconstructed in accordance with the invention and arranged toindividualize blanks fed thereto in overlapping relationship;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan of portions of the mechanism indicatedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic top plan indicating the initial positionof the blanks as the separating segment contacts the forward edge of thetopmost blank;

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line la-4a ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 4b is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 411-412 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a top plan similar to FIG. 4 but indicating the segment in anadvanced position of travel with the uppermost blank pulled away fromthe remaining blanks an initial distance;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5a5a of FIG.5;

FIG. 5b is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line Sly-5b ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan of another embodi' ment of blankpullout mechanism for blanks which do not have a straight forward edge,such as rhomboid blanks;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section [taken on the line 8-8 of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7;and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 10-1tl ofFIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodiedtherein includes portions of an envelope making machine generallydesignated 1i) indicating a belt conveyor mechanism generally designated12 including spaced pairs of lower endless belts 14 and spaced pairs ofcooperating endless belts 16 (only one of each of which is shown in FIG.1). The belts 14 and 16 cooperate to advance a series of envelope blanksgenerally designated 13 which are arranged in overlapping fanned-outrelationship. The envelopes are fed from a drying mechanism (not shown)upwardly around an arc to a horizontal feed line for operation thereonby pullout mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention. Thepullout mechanism is effective to rapidly separate each blank as it isfed from the remaining blanks in the series of fanned-out blanks, andthereafter feed it into association with mechanism for properly aligningand spacing the blanks for further operation thereon by mechanism (notshown) to complete the formation of the blanks into an envelope.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, the pulloutmechanism constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted forpulling out blanks which are substantially rectangular and include afront flap 29 which has a substantially straight forward edge 22. Inthis embodiment the blanks are arranged in an overlapping relationshipat which the forward edge 22 of each succeeding blank is spacedrearwardly of each next overlying blank a distance of approximately 1%".It should be appreciated that the pullout mechanism includes a devicefor operating on this marginal edge to separate the topmost blank fromthe remaining blanks in the fanned-out series. It is, of course, withinthe invention to operate on blanks which are arranged with their forwardedges overlapped a greater or lesser amount than 1%" by making simpleadjustments in the size and speed of rotation of the pullout mechanism.

Each blank 18 is also provided in the present instance with a trailingflap 24 which is slightly larger than the leading flap 20.

The series of fanned-out blanks are advanced by the conveyor mechanism12 beneath a blank holding device generally designated 24 (FIGS. 1 and2). The holding device 24 includes arms 26 and 28 which are mounted onassociated arms 30, each of which is rotatable on a shaft 32 fixed to aframe member 34. able along the shaft 32 and one of each of the arms 26and 28 is arranged to overlie the marginal edges of the flaps beingadvanced therebcneath. Each of the arms 26 and 28 is provided with aplurality of roller holding devices, in this instance four, arranged inspaced location along the direction of feed of the blanks and generallydesignated 36, 38, 40 and 42. Each of the roller holding devicesincludes a bracket portion 44 which is slid over the associated arm 26or 28 and which is tightened thereon in a selected position by a setscrew 46. Each roller holding device is provided with a roller 43 whichis pivotally mounted on the end of a link piece 50 which is biased bymeans of a compression spring 52 downwardly against the surface of theblanks being advanced thcrebeneath. In accordance with the invention,the roller holding device 42 is provided with a compression spring 5211of substantially less compressive force than the remaining compressionsprings 52 to provide only slight holding pressure on the uppermostblank after the others have rolled off this blank.

The envelope machine includes side frames 53, one of which is indicatedin FIG. 2, in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 54 on which a pulley 56of the conveyor mechanism 12 is atfixed. Also journalled in the endframes 53 is a shaft 58 which carries two hubbed backing rollers 60 and62 (FIG. 3) which are adjustably positioned on the shaft 58 to alignwith the side edges of the forward flap which is being fed by theconveyor 12. The rollers 60 and 62 are clamped in position on the shaft58 as by set screws 64 for rotation with the shaft. Slidably positionedon the shaft 58 for rotation independently thereof are a pair ofsprockets 66 and 68 arranged outboard of each of the backing rollers 60and 62. The sprockets 66 and 68 are driven from chains 70 and 72 whichare driven from mechanism (not shown) located at the end of the machinetoward the direction of blank feed. The chains 70 and 72 convergeslightly in the direction of feed in order to permit pairs of timingpins 74 and 76, respectively, to move behind blanks which are advancedby the pullout mechanism and gradually center and align the blanks asthe pins 74 and 76 move inwardly along the trailing edge toward thesides of the trailing flap 24. The gradual convergence of the timingpins 74 and 76 insures that there will be adequate space between theedge of the trailing flap 24 for the pins to move therebehind on eachside thereof. Thus, there is little likelihood that the pins willby-pass a misaligned flap. It should be appreciated that the sprocketwheels 66 and 68 may be shifted laterally on the shaft 58. Each sprocketwheel 66 and 68 is mounted on a yoke mechanism 78 which includes a levercontrol for shifting these sprockets.

In accordance with the invention means are provided to rapidly pull outthe foremost blank from the remaining series of blanks being slowly fedin fanned-out relationship. This mechanism includes a segment rollergenerally The arms are adjustdesignated 79 which is afiixed to a shaft89 which is rotatably mounted in end frame members (not shown). Thesegment roller 79 includes a U-shaped pullout segment 82 which is boltedthereto by means of a bolt 84. The segment 82 includes a curved outersurface 36 of a precise circumferential dimension to effect pullout ofonly one envelope blank from the blanks being fed in fannedoutrelationship at a predetermined speed of rotation thereof.

The pullout segment 82 cooperates with a pair of spaced rollers 83 and99 (FIG. 3) which are located on the end of an arm of associated yokecrank arm members 94 and 92, respectively. The yoke crank arm members 92and 94 are pivoted at the central portion as at 95 and are biased in aclockwise direction as viewed in PEG. 6 by a compression spring 96. Thespring 96 is retained within a socket of a frame member 93. The arm 94is provided with a stud stop 100 which contacts a stationary stop 192aflixed to the frame member 98 and limits the upward movement of therollers 83 and 95) when the segment 82 is not in contact therewith.

Rotation of the roller '79 with its segment 82 is designed to initiatethe removal of the uppermost blank from the blanks being fed infanned-out relationship by the conveyor 12 and advance it a shortdistance into the bignt of feeding rollers 60 and 62 which cooperatewith laterally adjustable rollers 104 and 106, respectively (FIG. 3).The rollers 104 and 166 are mounted on a plate member 198 which ispivotally connected to the end of an adjustable frame arm 110. The plate108 is biased by a tension spring 112 aflixed to the arm 11%) to urgethe rollers 104 and 196 into engagement with the rollers 60 and 62,respectively.

The timing and precise feeding of the blanks by the pullout mechanism isindicated schematically in FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b and 5, 5a and 5b. Thesegment 82 first contacts the forward edge of the flap 20 to the rear ofthe forward edge 22 and rapidly moves it ahead of the slowly fed blanksbeing advanced by the conveyor 12. The segment never compresses theforward edges of the subjacent blanks but merely contacts the forwardmargin of the flap 12 with the aid of the backing rollers 88 and 90. Itcan be seen that small adjustment of the size of the segment 82 or itsspeed of rotation would be required to accommodate blanks fed indifferent overlapping relationships. The present mechanism eifects arapid pullout of very closely spaced overlapped blanks. In FIGS. 4, 4aand 417 it should be noted that the cooperating rollers 60 and 104 ofthe advance feed mechanism has not as yet contacted the forward edge ofthe flap 2-9. As the segment 82 continues its rotation as indicated inFIGS. 5, 5a and 5b, the blank is rapidly accelerated out from theremaining series of blanks and fed into association with the forwardfeeding mechanism between the rollers 69 and 104 and 62 and 106 forfurther feeding to the aligning pins 74 and 76 of the chains 70 and 72,respectively.

In order to insure that the segment 82 pulls out only the uppermostblank and leaves the remaining blanks intact, it is essential toprecisely adjust the roller holding devices 36, 38, 40 and 42 in theirblank holding positions above the conveyor 12. The last holding device42 to bear upon the flap which is being pulled out is provided with avery light compression spring 52:: which urges the rollers downwardlyagainst the blank with only a small amount of force necessary to keep itfrom lifting off the feed line. The arrangement is such that the segment82 will contact the forward edge as shown in FIG. 4 precisely at thetime or shortly after the time that the roller 48 of the first of thehigher compression spring holding devices 40 starts to roll off thetrailing edge of the blank 18.

Since the roller 48 of the holding device 42 is biased into contact withthe blanks by a spring 52:: of lesser force than the remaining devices36, 38, and 40, the

uppermost sheet is held at the last instant by a'slight downwardtension, only to prevent it from being lifted off the horizontal feedingline as the segment 82 is moved into contact with the forward edge ofthis uppermost lank. The positioning of the roller 40 is such that itrolls off the trailing edge of the blank itiprecisely at the instant, orshortly before the instant that the segment 32 contacts the forwardedgeand begins pulling it from the remaining series of blanks. Thus, theheavy tension rollers 49', 38 and 36 remain on the blanks until they aremoved into a position at which the segment becomes operative to rapidlyaccelerate the blank and pull it away from the remaining blanks, atwhichtime the roller 48 of the holding device 46 rolls off the trailingedge blank 18.

After the blank is rap-idly pulled out by the cooperation of segment82and rollers 60 and 194 and 62 and 106, it is positioned on the chains70 and 72 whereupon a pair of timing pins 74 and 76 move behind theblanks and advance them at the new timing and individual spacing. Thepins 74 and 76 gradually converge behind the trailing edge of the blank18 and move adjacent the side edges of the trailing flap 24.

In FIGS. 7 to there is illustrated an embodiment of the inventionparticularly adapted for feeding blanks of rhomboid configuration or ofa configuration other than those. having a straight forward edge.Rhomboid blanks 114 are advanced by conveyor mechanism (not shown)similar to the conveyor mechanism 12 with their edges overlapped a-smallamount. In this embodiment the blanks are held to the conveyor by aseries of. holding rollers such as the rollers 36, 33, 49and'42,including a forward set 116 of light downward resilient force followedby sets 118 of substantially greater downward resilient holding force.In this embodiment a segment shaft 125] is mounted in vertical alignmentwith a sprocket and backing roller shaft 122. The segment shaft 120 isrotatably mounted on a block 124 which'isbiased downwardly by acompression spring 126v held between the block and a bar 127 afiixed toa frame member 129. A segment roller 13!? is afiixed tov the shaft 120and includes a substantially U-shaped segment 128 which is affixedthereto as by boltstnot shown). The shaft 120 and hence the seg-. ment128 is biased downwardly as it rotates.

In this embodiment a single backing roller 131 isprovidedfor'cooperation'with the segment 128- as well as.

with lateral biasing rollers 132 and134 which are adjustable laterallysimilarly to the previous embodiment and which are biased into contactwith the backing roller 130. tion with the axis of the segment roller13!).

In this instance they arealigned inthe feed direc- The backing roller131 is adjustable laterally. on a shaft136 which also holds sprocketwheels 138 and 140 carrying chains 1'42 and 144, respectively, of theadvance feed conveyor for the blanks. .The sprockets-138 are adjustablelaterally on the shaft-122 by means of yokes 145 and 148, respectively,as in the previous embodiment.

Similarly, the rollers 132 and 134 are adjustable along 1 bars 150 and152, which bars are adjustable on a cross member 154, similar to theprevious embodiment.

It should be realized that in-the case of feeding rhomboid blanks orblanks which do not have astraight forward edge, the timing of pull outforthe blanks and movemcntin-to association with the advance feedconveyor chain is determined by the distance from the foremost point onthe blank which is the centerline of a forward flap 156 to a positionadjacent the side portions of the forward edge of this flap. The segment128 operates as in the previous embodiment to. contact the forwardmargin of the uppermost blank without contacting the underlying blanksand rapidly advance each blank out of association with the remainingfanned-out blanks. The segment 128 is designed to move a slight distancein contactwith the blank and the cooperating backing roller 131 beforethe rollers 132F and 134 with thecooperating tact with said means justprior-to the time when the forward margin of said blank is contacted bysaid seg backing roller 13 1 advance the blank forward at the "new w.-rate of speed to complete the separation thereof from Thus, theinvention provides a simple mechanism'for" rapidly pulling out andseparating the foremost blank from a series of blanks fed in overlappingfanned relationship. The mechanism is adjustable to accommodate varioussizes of blanks as well as to accommodate blanks which are fanned-outwith various degrees of overlap. The invention provides mechanism forseparating and feeding blanks at spaced controlled time rates regardlessof the size of the blank or its configuration.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for separating blanks from a series of blanks being fedcontinuously in fanned-out formation with the forward margins ofsuccessive blanks spaced apart by a predetermined amount, comprising asegment rotatable at a greater peripheral speed than the speed of feedof said blanks and substantially horizontally aligned with the level offeed of said blanks, said segment being rotationally timed to contactthe forward formation, and roller feed means in position to engage thesaid blank after it has been initially advanced from the fanned-outformation by said segment to thereafter feed it to complete theseparation of said blank, said roller feed means being substantiallyhorizontally aligned with the level of feed of said blanks.

2. A device for separating blanks in accordance with claim 1 includinghigh speed conveyor means having individual blank, aligning andcentering means thereon to.- receive blanks in succession as they arepulled out from" said fanned-out series, said conveyor means being insubstantial horizontal alignment with the level of feed of said blanks.

3. A device for separating blanks in accordancewith claim 1 wherein saidroller feed means is spaced for- I wardly in the direction of feed fromsaid segments I 4. A device for separating blanks from a series ofblanks being fed continuouslyin overlapped fanned-out relationship withthe forward margins of successive blanks spaced apart by a predeterminedamount, comprising a segment rotatable at a greater peripheral speedthenthe 1 a speed of feed of said blanks and horizontally aligned with thelevel of feed of said blanks, said segment being rotation-ally timed tocontact the forward margin of :the uppermost blank only of each blank insuccession ash is being fed, backing means operatively associatedv withsaid segment to effect rapid advance of the uppermost blank andseparation of said blank from the-remaining blanks being fed, andresilient means in contact'with said blanks as they are being fed inoverlapping fannedout relation to-hold said blanks in position in saidline "of feed, said means being spaced from said segmentan' amountsufiicient to cause said blank to move out of conupwardly into the pathof feed of said blanks and located beneath said segment, and whereinsaid segment rotates through an arc to contact a blank fed over saidroller and cooperates with said roller to rapidly separate and advancethe uppermost blank of the series.

6. A device for separating blanks from a series of blanks according toclaim 4 wherein said resilient means to hold said blanks in position insaid line of feed includes a roller arranged to rotate on the face ofsaid blanks in biased engagement therewith, said roller being adjustablealong the line of feed of said overlapping blanks.

7. A device according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means forholding said blanks in position in said line of feed includes aplurality of spaced rollers arranged in the direction of feed of saidblanks and in rolling contact with said blanks, said rollers beingbiased downwardly against the face of said blanks, one of said rollersbeing spaced from said segment an amount to effect its rolling off ofthe trailing edges of said blank as said forward edge is contacted bysaid segment.

8. In an envelope making machine including first conveyor means forcontinuous feeding of blanks in fanned out overlapping relationship withthe uppermost blanks leading the next adjacent lower blank by apredetermined amount, second conveyor means having a faster linear speedthan said first conveyor means and means for feeding individual blanksthereon in timed aligned sequence, said second conveyor means arrangedadjacent to said first conveyor means to receive blanks therefrom andadvance each individually, said second conveyor means beingsubstantially coplanar with the level of said first conveyor means theimprovement comprising, a pullout mechanism for rapidly separating eachuppermost blank in succession from the banks being fed from said firstconveyor means and delivering said blank at increased speed intoassociation with said second conveyor means in timed spaced relationshipincluding, a rapidly rotating segment, means cooperating with saidsegment for biasing the forward edge of said blanks upwardly forengagement by said segment as the latter is rotated, resilient means inengagement with said blanks for holding said blanks on said firstconveyor means, including at least a portion of said resilient meanswhich is movable out of contact with said uppermost blanks to lessen theholding force thereon substantially at the same time as said segmentrotates into contact with the forward marginal edge of said uppermostblank, and means to rotate said segment at a speed to effect, togetherwith said cooperating means, contact of the marginal overlapped edge ofthe uppermost blank without contacting the underlying blanks and todirect said blanks into engagement by said second conveyor means.

9. In an envelope making machine according to claim 8 wherein saidresilient means includes rollers biased into contact with the upperfaces of said blanks on said first conveyor means and wherein therollers are arranged and spaced along the line of feed of said blankswhereby they roll off the trailing edge of said blanks as the latter areadvanced there beneath.

10. In an envelope making machine according to claim 9 wherein therollers of said resilient means nearest to said segment are only lightlybiased in order to maintain a light contact with the uppermost blankwhen it is being withdrawn from the remaining group of blanks.

11. In an envelope making machine according to claim 10 wherein all ofthe rollers but the lightly biased ones are moved out of engagement withthe uppermost blank when the latter is in position for engagement bysaid segment.

12. In an envelope making machine according to claim 8 wherein saidcooperating means includes a roller centered beneath said segment andbiased upwardly for engagement of a blank by said segment cooperatingwith said roller.

13. In an envelope making machine according to claim 12 wherein saidsegment is substantially U-sectioned and including a separate rollerbiased into engagement with each leg of said U-section.

14. In an envelope making machine according to claim 8 wherein saidsegment is located to rotate in alignment with the center of envelopesbeing advanced there beneath, and including at least one cooperatingpair of feed rollers laterally spaced from said segment, and means torotate said rollers to advance blanks delivered thereto by said segmentto said second conveyor means, said segment and feed rollers positionedto advanced blanks in substantially coplanar relation with said firstand second conveyor means.

15. In an envelope making machine according to claim 14 wherein saidpair of feeding rollers are spaced in the direction of feed away fromsaid segment.

16. In a device for transferring blanks being fed continuously by afirst conveyor in fanned-out lapped relationship with the forwardmargins of successive blanks spaced apart by a predetermined amount to asecond conveyor for feeding the blanks in non-overlapping timedrelationship, the improvement comprising a pullout mechanism arrangedbetween said first and second conveyor means for rapidly separating eachuppermost blank in succession from the blanks being fed by said firstconveyor and delivering it at increased speed into operative associationwith said second conveyor, including, a rapidly rotating segment,backing means cooperating with said segment, resilient means inengagement with said blanks on said first conveyor, including a portionwhich is moveable out of contact with said blanks to lessen the holdingforce thereon substantially at the same time as said segment rotatesinto contact with the forward marginal edge of the uppermost blank, saidsegment rotating at a speed to bring said segment into engagement withthe marginal overlapped edge of the uppermost blank without contactingthe underlying blanks and to direct said blanks into engagement withsaid second conveyor, said first and second conveyors and said pull-outmechanism being substantially horizontally aligned with the level offeed of said blanks.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said seg ment is mounted on ashaft, and means for biasing said shaft downwardly toward said backingmeans.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein said backing means includes abacking roller shaft, and a backing roller aflixed to said shaftarranged to cooperate with said segment.

19. A device according to claim 18 including means to rotate saidbacking roller shaft at substantially the same speed as said segment andincluding roller means on each side of said segment cooperating withsaid backing roller for advancing blanks fed by such segment.

20. A device according to claim 19 wherein said backing roller and saidlaterally spaced cooperating rollers are arranged in alignment with theaxis of rotation of said segment.

21. A method for separating a series of blanks, comprising continuouslyfeeding the blanks at a predetermined speed with the forward margins ofsuccessive blanks spaced apart by a predetermined amount, rotating asegment member at a location overlying and substantially coplanar withsaid blank feed level and arranged to contact the forward margin of eachblank as it is being fed to initiate separation of said blank from theremaining blanks while simultaneously holding the trailing edge of theremaining blanks, and after said blank has been initially separated fromsaid fanned-out blanks, completing said separation by moving the blankinto association with advance feeding rollers.

22. A device according to claim 4, wherein said resilient means includesa plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers biased downwardly on saidseries of blanks, the forward one of said rollers being biaseddownwardly with a lighter holding force than the others and maintainedin contact with said blank as the segment engages said blank.

23. In a device for transferring blanks being fed continuously by afirst conveyor in fanned-out lapped relationship with the forwardmargins of successive blanks spaced apart by a predetermined amount to asecond conveyor for continuously feeding the blanks in non-lapped spacedrelation at a higher linear velocity than the speed of feed of saidblanks on said first conveyor, the improvement comprising a pull-outmechanism having a first and second stage arranged between said firstand second conveyors for rapidly separating the foremost blank insuccession from the blanks being fed on said first conveyor andaccelerating it to an increased speed into operative association withsaid second conveyor, said first stage in cluding high speed rotatingsegment means engaging the unlapped marginal area of the foremost blankon said first conveyor to initiate the required acceleration thereof,said second stage including rotating means to engage the leading edge ofthe blank accelerated by the segment means of said first stage tocontinue said acceleration, whereby improved high speed transfer ofblanks from said first to said second conveyor is accomplished.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said first and said secondstages of said pull-out mechanism are in substantial vertical alignmenton an axis transverse to .the longitudinal feed axis of said conveyors.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said Ppull-out mechanismincludes singular backing means cooperative with said first stagesegment and said second stage rotating means.

26. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said first and second stagesof said pull-out mechanism are spaced longitudinally along thelongitudinal axis defined .by said first and second conveyors.

References Cited in the file of this patent 9 UNITED STATES PATENTS

